Dear Friend,

Can you even imagine TOTAL darkness?

I've experienced it.  One night, many years ago, at camp, we extinguished our lantern and were shocked at how dark it was.

There was no moon. The heavy canopy of pine trees prohibited any starlight from reaching us.

It was PITCH black.

My immediate thought was that "I'd get used to it," my eyes would "adjust," and that I'd soon be able to walk down the familiar path from our campsite to the restroom.

Well, I didn't get used to it, and my eyes did NOT adjust.

Regardless of how much I wanted to see, or how hard I willed myself to see - I COULD NOT.  There was absolutely NO SOURCE OF LIGHT.

In a time when only dim, small oil lamps and candles lit the night, Jesus Christ made the bold claim:

"I am the light of the world." - John 8:12

The only natural source of light at the time was, of course, the sun...

....and, as we all know, the sun TOTALLY overpowers any darkness.

Imagine Jesus comparing Himself to the overwhelming power, heat, and strength of the sun!  Just think of the attention (and controversy) this statement brought to him!

He, of course, expanded his statement by explaining that He intended to positively and powerfully illuminate the hearts and the thoughts of men, women, and children.

And this He DID - Jesus Christ brought a NEW SOURCE OF LIGHT into the dark corners of human thought. In a similar way, only 53 years ago, a new ministry was born as persons were hungry for a positive interpretation of Christ's Gospel message.

Today that ministry, the Crystal Cathedral and the Hour of Power, is STILL a bright source of the positive love of the message of Jesus Christ in a country and a world where countless persons have embraced dark and dim thoughts to guide their daily lives.

Can you imagine if the one-hour, weekly-televised Hour of Power was EVER taken off the air?

The truth is that it takes little or no imagination to experience total darkness...

...just close your eyes tonight and try walking in usual familiar areas.

Then, imagine what the world would be like, today, without the positive source and hope-inspiring message of Christ's love.

A wonderful, positive, and prominent friend of our ministry, David Prager (a nationally syndicated and radio talk show host), a member of the Jewish faith, said in our pulpit:

            "I am so happy for the thriving of Christianity in

            America today...and I worry if Christianity should

            ever lose its grip in our country. I'm not optimistic

            about what might follow."

Yes, our weekly-televised Hour of Power is positioned as a unique and respected key source of positive light within the world's Christian religious community...

...a light that we MUST NOT allow to go out.

And THAT is why I have written this letter to you today - because we need financial help to guarantee that the Hour of Power will remain on the air across all 50 states and in 100 countries around the world.

...20 million persons look to the Hour of Power EVERY Sunday morning!

These persons are looking for the light of Jesus Christ.

So, today, I'm asking you for a gift of $20, or $30, or however much you feel moved in your heart to provide.

And I will thank you with a wonderful glistening gift that you can hang on your Christmas tree.

I will thank you by sending to you the 2007 Hour of Power Christmas ornament from the Crystal Cathedral...

...a lacy, cut brass star surrounding a beveled star of lucite that is etched with Christ's own words:

"I am the light of the world." - John 8:12

It will remind you and your family and anyone who sees it that Jesus Christ IS the true light in the human heart...in the human soul -

...and that your gift helped to keep the bright and redeeming message of Christ on the air every week through the televised Hour of Power.

God loves you and so do I,

Dr. Robert H. Schuller